Government urged to see sport as part of the ‘solution’ not problem
Sports chiefs have called on the Government to see their respective pursuits as part of the "solution" rather than the problem as they wrestle with the implications of the tightened coronavirus lockdown measures.
Golf and tennis are among the outdoor sports to be shut down in England - although the former can continue in small groups in Scotlandwhile Skateboard GB says the rules relating to outdoor skate parks remain unclear.
England Golf chief executive Jeremy Tomlinson said he regretted having failed to convince the Government of the physical and mental benefits of allowing the sport to continue under strict socialdistancing rules.
Tomlinson said: "I apologise to all golfers out there that we haven't been able to help the Government understand that golf could be part of a solution as opposed to the problem.
"I would very much class golf as par t of walking, running and cycling; it's in the open air, you naturally socially distance, you don't touch anybody else' s equipment, you get a mental application, enjoyment and relaxation from it. And that's before you even consider the strain that's going to be on the open spaces and parks in an unregulated fashion.
"You would be taking circa 2 million people away from that, getting them on the golf courses, exercising in that way and again I think that could be a real positive.
"I hope to be able to convince the Government of that and at the very least to bring golf back sooner, rather than later."
Graeme Mcdowell and Lee Westwood have tweeted their support for a petition to keep golf courses open, with former US Open champion Mcdowell writing :" With correct safety measures, golf is a sport which can easily function in these tough times. Great for exercise and general well being."
Tomlinson's view was echoed by Skateboard GB chief executive James Hop e - Gill,
who said he saw no reason why the sport should not continue even as the status of some local authority skate parks remains unclear.
While indoor skate parks have been ordered to close, there is no specific mention of the fate of outdoor facilities, some but not all of which are operated by local authorities, in the latest guidelines.
"Skateboarding is a naturally socially-distancing sport and our ideal scenario would
be that outdoor skate parks remain open because they are places people can go that are of physical and mental benefit.
"But all you need is a skate - board and a piece of flat ground. It is as legitimate a mode of transport as cycling, so as long as you are doing it safely and socially-distancing, we would urge people to keep skateboarding."
GB Taekwondo performance director Gary Hall warned the
impact of the closure of sporting facilities would not be fully appreciated for a number of years.
Hall said :" The long-term damage could be sign i ficant because you are switching so many young people off.
"You' ve got to stimulate the grass roots and it' s an issue that will come back to haunt us in two or three years because there will be fewer people doing sports ."